The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-08-05
eRemorrat-SM
GULF MULLET.


Now OrLeene states.
Conditions now existing among
the eastern fisheries promise Ia
entail another heavy shortage in
the mackerel catch of this season
heavier shortage than that which
existed last year; and with the
scarcity of supplies, We of cOuI se,
look for steady aud considerable
advances IN prices from the already
high figures at which present stocks
are held. Even as the market now
stands, the cost of this favorite
edible has made it q somewhat ex.
pensive luxury, besides reducing
the retailers margin for profits to
such an extent that many Of them
have already ceased to handle il ;
and II tue fishing season continues
to furnish such poor results as
have thus tar been indicated, we
must expect TO see our market, at
least during the approaching year,
almost bare of mackeTel, and such
stocks as may be available held at
prices altogether beyond the reach
of the poorer classes. The Boston
Commercial BWlletiN reviews the
situation as eftecting the fishing
trade as follows:
"The catch of summer fish has
Oeen light and the fish are scarce.
Demand is fair all around, and the
prices, have averaged higher. So
light has been the cath of mackerel
that the government steamer Gram.
pus has gone off on a cruise in
search OF mackerel for the benefit of
fishermen. The law restricting the
catch of mackerel till after the
spawning season goes into effect
next gear, as the fish have been so
very scarce. The Novelty-the
only steamer in the mackerel trade
has turned in fuller fares than
any of the feet, but her expenses
have been proportionately larger /:
aud she is understood not to be en-
Ilching her owners. Her fares
have differed widely in amount.
She has made about five trips.
Upon n of these, made about a
month ago, her fare amounted TO
about $1,000. On another occasion
she took only about $3.50 worth of
Mackerel.6
With this state of affairs existing
it is gratifying to learn that the
wonderful, long.neglected resources
of the South have again furnished
ar instance OF orr ability 70 offset
the effects OF Il scarcity of mercan
tile products, usually supplied to
this section of the country by the
North and East, By opening and
developing IA branch of industry
aiming to place a Southern article
npon the market in competition
Mith'the same character of goods
from other and remote parts OF the
country.
Within the past few months sys-
tematic, Intelligent and successful
efforts have been made at points OH
the coast of the Gull OF Mexico, to
catch, and preserve in brine. by the
same method as that employed in
the mackerel packeTieS OF the East,
the Gulf or silver mullet, 4 fish
that swarms in countless millions
upon u Southern shores, and is,
in every respect, fully equal IN
meat and flavor to the standard
mackerel of commerce. The results
of what may be termed the initial
efforts of d newly established
mnllet packers have been IN every
respect of a satisfactory nature.
Their method OF curing has proven
effective, they have been able to
place their fish on tie market al
figures much below those quoted for
m~ackerel, aud ut greater advantage
to the retail dealer; and taking
into consideration the comparative
newhess of the fish as a m%erchanta.
BILE article, a fair demand has been
created for the goods. In this city
the brand OF fish now known as
"Gulf Mullet" has come into de.
maud from consumers, and ship
ments are being made III Increasing
quantities to country dealers. The
interior trade is. building up, and
orders have been filed for houses
in several OF the large western
markets, with every prospect of .
heavy increase in this branch oil
the business as sOOu as the fall sea.
% sets IN aud an active demand
for salt 6sh develops.
1t is this western trade, in fact,
to which our southern packers
look for the enlargement of their
new industry ; aud that their ex.
pectations will in all probability be
realized is a natural inference to
draw from a review of the circum-
stances attendant upon the opening
of the trade. 1t will not he possible
for eastern packers to compete at
points in aud west of the Miss;ssip.
pi Valley with establishments titu
ated within one hundred miles OF
New Orleans, aud enjoy ing facilities
for shipping both by river and rail ;
and, even If it were in the gauge OF
reason to suppose that "A parity of
freight ratea could be secured, the
figures az phich our southern fish
can be packed aud placed 10 the
open market will effectnally pre-
vent an attempt of mackerel pack
ers TO compete successfully with us
30 the open markets of the west,
and will enable q people to bold